What Montrealers Actually Ask During Landscaping Estimate Calls

Every estimate call follows a pattern. Homeowners have specific worries, practical questions, and misconceptions shaped by bad past experiences or internet research. After handling hundreds of calls from homeowners across Montreal, Laval, and the South Shore, these are the questions that come up most often, with straight answers.

"How much is this going to cost?"

This is always the first question, and it's the hardest to answer without details. Landscaping costs vary widely based on scope of work, materials, site conditions, and property access.

What we can say: a reliable estimate requires understanding your specific project. That's why we estimate by phone, photo, or video. Send us photos of the area, describe what you want, and we provide a detailed quote without needing to visit your property.

General ranges for common projects in Montreal (2026):

• Interlock paver patio (200 to 400 sq ft): $5,000 to $15,000
• Front walkway and steps: $3,000 to $10,000
• Driveway paving (standard single car): $8,000 to $18,000
• Retaining wall (per linear foot, 2 to 3 feet high): $150 to $400
• Full backyard renovation: $15,000 to $50,000+
• Lawn installation (sod, 1,000 sq ft): $1,500 to $3,500
• French drain installation: $2,000 to $6,000

These ranges are starting points. Your actual quote depends on the specifics.

"Do I need a permit?"

The answer depends on your borough and the scope of work. In Montreal, most boroughs require permits for hardscaping work (paving, retaining walls, staircase construction). Simple planting changes typically do not need permits.

The City of Montreal states that permit requirements vary by borough. Some require a certificate of authorization for any change to front yard landscaping, while others are more permissive (Source: Ville de Montreal).

We check permit requirements for your specific borough as part of our quoting process.

"Can you come see the property?"

We provide estimates by phone, photo, or video. This approach works well for residential landscaping because:

• Photos and video show us exactly what we need to see: the current condition, dimensions, access points, and surrounding context.
• It saves you the time of scheduling and waiting for an in-person visit.
• We can often provide a quote faster than contractors who require site visits.

For complex projects, we may request a video walkthrough where you show us the property while describing what you want. This gives us the detail we need to quote accurately.

"When can you start?"

Timing depends on the season and our current schedule. In Montreal, the outdoor construction season runs roughly from mid-April to mid-November. Peak demand is May through September.

Early spring (April to May) and early fall (September to October) are the best times to schedule work. Mid-summer is the busiest period, and lead times are longest.

For spring projects, calling in late winter or early spring gives the best chance of getting your preferred start date.

"How long will it take?"

Project duration varies by scope:

• Front walkway and steps: 3 to 5 working days
• Patio installation (200 to 400 sq ft): 4 to 7 working days
• Full backyard renovation: 7 to 14 working days
• Lawn installation: 2 to 4 working days
• Retaining wall (30 to 50 linear feet): 5 to 8 working days

Weather delays are a reality in Montreal. Rain stops paver installation because the base can't be compacted properly when wet. We build reasonable weather buffers into our timelines.

"What happens if it rains?"

Rain pauses certain phases of work, particularly base compaction and paver laying. Other tasks (excavation, grading, planting) can sometimes continue in light rain. If rain causes a delay, we resume as soon as conditions allow. We don't charge extra for weather delays.

"What pavers should I use?"

Quebec has three major paver manufacturers: Techo-Bloc, Permacon, and Rinox. All three produce quality products that handle Montreal's freeze-thaw cycles. The choice between them comes down to the specific look you want.

We typically recommend:

• Techo-Bloc Blu 60mm for driveways and patios: a versatile, durable paver available in multiple colors.
• Permacon Villagio for natural stone aesthetics at a manufactured paver price.
• Rinox Proma for contemporary, large-format designs.

We can discuss options during the estimate call and help you choose based on your style preference and budget.

"Will the pavers shift or crack in winter?"

Not if the installation is done right. The base determines longevity, not the pavers themselves. A proper installation includes:

• Excavation to below frost line (minimum 10 inches of compacted gravel for driveways, 8 inches for patios)
• Geotextile membrane to prevent soil migration
• Compacted crushed limestone in multiple lifts
• Edge restraints anchored with 10-inch spikes
• Polymeric sand in the joints

With this base system, interlock pavers handle Montreal winters without shifting or cracking.

"Do you handle drainage too?"

Yes. Drainage is part of virtually every landscape project we do. In Montreal, clay soil and aging infrastructure mean drainage problems are common. We address drainage as part of the project scope, whether that means regarding the yard, installing French drains, adding catch basins, or integrating channel drains into patio designs.

Our Plateau patio project is a good example: the original concrete had no proper base and no drainage. We installed a compacted gravel base with a 2% grade slope and a linear channel drain, completely resolving the drainage issues.

"What about the grass and garden?"

Many hardscape projects include landscape restoration for the areas disturbed during construction. If we excavate for a patio and the adjacent lawn is damaged, we restore it with sod or seed as part of the project.

We also design and install complete softscaping: garden beds, trees, shrubs, perennial plantings, and lawn installation. Our Laval backyard project included a full landscape installation with sod, perennial beds, shrubs, and a paver walkway.

"Can I see examples of your work?"

Yes. Our project portfolio shows completed residential projects across Montreal, Laval, and the South Shore. Each project page includes details about the scope, materials, and challenges addressed.

"What is your warranty?"

We stand behind our work. Specific warranty terms depend on the scope of the project and are detailed in the written quote.

"Do you do the work yourselves or subcontract?"

We do the work ourselves. Our crew handles excavation, base preparation, paver installation, grading, planting, and cleanup. We don't sub out the core work to third parties.

Ready to get your estimate?

Call Montreal Paysagement Pro at 514-900-3867. Send us photos or video of your project area, describe what you're looking for, and we'll provide a detailed estimate without an on-site visit.